Activities Highlight 2011-2012

The Graduate Students’ Society (GSS) from the National University of Singapore (NUS) visited CUPA and CityU on 20 February 2012. The GSS is the official student group representing more than 10,000 graduate students at the NUS. The friendly visit began with a speech delivered by Mr Bruce Lee, the President of CUPA. Mr Lee extended a warm welcome to the GSS delegation on behalf of CUPA, and gave a brief introduction to the structure of CUPA, especially its executive committee. The Vice-President of GSS also delivered a speech and expressed thanks for CUPA’s hospitality. During the meeting, Ms Millie Mark, School Secretary of the Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies (SGS), and Miss Karen Kwok, Supervisory Executive Officer of Student Development Services (SDS), shared the backgrounds and roles of SGS and SDS, respectively. The GSS and CUPA exchanged opinions on various issues relating to the development of postgraduate organisation and cross organisation events. The official meeting ended with a pleasant tour of the campus.

On 11 February 2012, CUPA, together with the postgraduate associations of The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Baptist University, organised a Joint University Party for members at Tsim Sha Tsui to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Around 120 members came from the four postgraduate associations and enjoyed the delicious food, drink and games on offer. They also had the chance to meet members of the other postgraduate associations and develop new friendships. Most of them exchanged their contact details, and boys were encouraged to present “blue ribbons” to girls, while the girls were encouraged to present“red ribbons”to boys.

CUPA organised a Christmas Party and a Hong Kong Glamorous Night Tour held on 17 December and 24 December 2011, respectively, to celebrate Christmas and New Year with CUPA members. The Christmas Party was held in a café and featured delicious food, drinks and games. On the Hong Kong Glamorous Night Tour, the Vice-President of CUPA took our members on a wonderful night trip from Mido Café at Yau Ma Tei to the revamped historical compound “1881 Heritage” at Tsim Sha Tsui. CUPA members enjoyed the marvelous view of the enchanting Christmas light decorations blended with colourful neon signs.

Orientation Night 2011, one of CUPA's most exciting events, was held on 10 September 2011 at Multi-Function Hall B, Student Residence. The Orientation Night not only featured a delicious buffet, various entertaining shows and a lucky draw, but most importantly allowed new CUPA members to meet friends and familiarise themselves with CityU campus life.

On 18 June 2011, CUPA organised a High Table Dinner at Top Deck at The Jumbo with the theme of “Dream, Discover and Innovate”. Guests at the event included the Hon Leung Chun-ying, the CityU Council Chairman; Professor Way Kuo, University President; Professor Arthur Ellis, Provost; Professor Gregory Raupp, Vice-President (Research and Technology); Professor Paul Lam Kwan-sing, Vice-President (Student Affairs); Dr Cheung Chor-yung, Dean of Students and Mr Joseph Chan, Director of Student Development Services. This event provided a good opportunity for CityU postgraduate students to interact with the distinguished guests, who shared their life experiences. Around 40 CUPA members joined the High Table Dinner, all participants enjoyed the delicious buffet, lucky draw, performance show and a relaxed environment.

“C9 League” Doctoral and Postgraduate Association Forum

The President and Secretary of CUPA attended the C9 Postgraduate Forum from 27 to 30 May 2011 organised by Zhejiang University. This was the first event staged by

the C9 League, with representatives from more than twenty-five mainland universities in attendance. Postgraduate representatives from CityU, The Chinese University of Hong Kong and The University of Hong Kong were invited to attend the forum to exchange ideas on innovation and the role of postgraduate students. CUPA appreciates having gained this opportunity to build networks with the C9 League and foresees holding more events of this kind to connect with more universities in mainland China.

The C9 League is an association of nine Chinese universities, including Fudan University, the Harbin Institute of Technology, Nanjing University, Peking University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Tsinghua University, the University of Science and Technology of China, Xi’an Jiao Tong University and Zhejiang University.

CUPA organized a company visit to the FedEx APAC Hub at New Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou on 13 May 2011. Under the guidance and introduction of staff from the FedEx APA Hub, CUPA members were able to visit the ramp and distribution centre. This kind of tour not only allows CUPA members to gain an insight into the operation of the industry, but also offers a good opportunity to build networks between CUPA and the business community. Positive feedback was received from the participants, and CUPA plans to organize more tours of this kind in the near future.

To encourage postgraduates to enjoy healthy exercise and enhance communication with other university postgraduate associations, CUPA members joined the Inter-University Postgraduate Badminton Competition with teams from University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Polytechnic University on 17 April 2011.

The match was set up with each team playing men's singles and doubles, women's singles and doubles, and mixed doubles against another team. Thirteen members represented CUPA to compete in the matches and the team received the 3rd runner-up prize this year. Thanks to all the CUPA team members for their hard work and participation.